Foldable tray-table unit



51111537 9 19% c. H. WHLSQN ET AL 2 5314 7735 FOLDABLE TRAY-TABLE UNIT Filed March 31, 1948 7 41 L 6 6 go Patented July 11.1950

FOLDABLE TRAY-TABLE UNIT Clarence H. Wilson, Glendale, and William H. Alexander, Arcadia, Calif.

Application March 31, 1948, Serial No. 18,218

This invention relates to improvements in collapsible tables and has for one of its objects the provision of a particularly novel and many-purpose table unit in which the top thereof is in the form of a serving tray connected to and associated with a pair of leg members in such novel manner that the leg members and the tray top may be readily collapsed and folded into very small compass and as readily set up to serve as a tray and as a small and extremely light table with full accommodation between the leg members and under the tray top for the legs of the seated user. I I

Another object is to provide a table-tray unit such as described in which the tray top is hingedly confined on one of a pair of U-shaped leg members and releasably connected by means of catch members to the other leg member in such manner that the collapsing and folding of the unit and the extension thereof into table formation may be readily and. easily effected with a minimum of operations and simple movements.

A further object is to provide a tray-table unit such as described in which the tray top and one of the leg members tend to gravitate into the proper folded position with relation to the other leg member on release of the catch members, thereby assuring that the user will collapse and fold the unit in the proper manner.

With the foregoing objects in view, together with such other objects and advantages as may subsequently appear, the invention resides in the parts and in the combination, construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed, and illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a tray-table embodying the present invention and shown set up for use,

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of the bottom of the tray top showing the arrangement of the hinges and the catches thereon,

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the table showing how the tray top is lifted when releasing the catches, the arrows indicating the direction in which the tray top and the then free leg member are swung downward to collapse and fold the unit,

Fig. 4 represents a side elevation of the table unit when folded,

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary enlarged elevational view showing one of the pivoted connections of the leg members, and

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. l.

1 Claim. (Cl. 311--83) In accordance with this invention in its preslar metal tray 6 of standard size is hingedly connected along one longitudinal marginal portion of its depressed bottom 6' bysimple strap metal hinges to one of a pair of U-shaped metal leg members generally designated 8 and 9 as particularly shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 5. In this instance the hinges l are fastened with rivets [0 to the under side of the depressed bottom 6' of the tray and rolled around the horizontal cross piece 8' of the U-shaped leg member 8 so that one of the elevated rolled-edge flanges 6" of the tray will overlie and extend outwardly over and conceal the cross piece 8 when the unit is set up as a traytable as best shown in Fig. 6. l

The free side pieces or 'legsof the U-shaped leg members 8 and 9 are crossed and pivoted as at H intermediate their ends (see Fig. 6), with intervening washers l2 to provide smooth acting and wear-resisting pivotal connections between said members, thus providing four legs for the unit, there being non-slipping rubber tips l3 on the free ends of the leg members which also prevent scratching of fiOOr surfaces.

As a means for releasably connecting the tray to the other leg member 9, two spring catch members It are mounted on the underside of the bottom 6' of the tray 6 opposite the hinges '1 by means of rivets l5 and are arranged to snap over and around the cross piece 9 ofleg member 9 as best shown in Fig. "'6. It should be noted that in having the catch members M in line with the hinges 1 and adjacent the ends of the tray as are the hinges, the tray is held with considerable stability on the leg members 8 and 9 and the latter are likewise maintained as a rigid and stable support for the tray. The catch members M are hook-like with downwardly facing bills so that in encompassing and having their free ends extending below the cross piece 9' and back thereunder as shown in Fig. 6, the tray and leg members are effectively held in secure assembled relation and can be moved about while lifting the unit by holding tray, Without disengaging the catches. The other longitudinal and rolled edge flange 6" of the tray will overlie and conceal the cross piece 9' of the leg member 9 as well as the catch members I 4. In this connection it should be noted that the elevated end flanges 6" of the tray are extended beyond the vertical plane of the leg portions of the leg members 8 and 9 so that the tray is symmetrically positioned and balanced on the leg members with its bottom 6' positioned below the plane of the cross pieces 8' and 9' bet- 3 ter to lend stability to the unit as will be apparent with reference to Fig. 6.

With reference to Fig. 3 it will be apparent that if the hinged side of the unit is held with one hand and tilted but slightly toward the operator while releasing the catch members 14, the cross piece 9 and the leg member 9 being then released, will gravitate in the direction of the arrows, while at .thessame time the tray :6 tends to likewise gravitate and under control of the operator may be readily restrained to follow the leg unit 9 and eventually take the collapsed position shown in Fig. 4. In this position the unit aslhere shown will take up but approximately 2 1; inches as to thickness and may therefore be conveniently packaged for shipment or stored in very small compass.

It should be noted that when the table is collapsed, the tray remains suspended from- -the cross piece 8' of the leg member 8 and lies in vertical position against the upright leg portions ofmemberB: while the other leg member-9 is .in-

vented compared to leg member 8 and has its crossrpiece disposed adjacent the free ends of the legs-ofmembert; all to the end that a most conpiece 9' to set up the unit asa tray-table in acco zdance with this-invention.

It should be noted that the tray 1-6 and cross pieces-8' and-Q at a the upper ends of the leg units 8 and are' of such length that they will span the lap of aperson seated in aznormal fashion on a chairmr the like and as these cross pieces .extend .-lengthwise of the tray, it' follows that the legs proper (of the tray table provide therebetween from the floor level to the tray an nnobstructedspacewhich will accommodate the legs and knees of the seated person. Thus the tray-may readily be-drawn into and outof'a positionzoverlyi-ngthe-lap of the seated person without being-obstructed and without requiring that such person move the feet or lower limbs :or in any way crowding the legs.

While we have shown and described a specific embodiment of our invention we do not limit ourselves to the exact details of construction set forth, and the invention embraces such changes, modifications and equivalents of the parts and their formation and arrangement as come within the purview of the appended claim.

We claim:

In *a tray-table unit, a ,pair of :U-shaped le members the leg portions of which are longer than the cross pieces thereof, means pivotally connecting the side portions of said U-shaped rmembers'incrossed relation to one another, a rectangular tray having a depressed bottom wall and marginal flanges which latter extend above the plane of the bottom and laterally outward,

:means hingedly connecting the bottom of the tray along one longitudinal margin thereof to the cross-"piece of one of said U-shapedleg members so that the flange adjacent said margin lies over and extends outwardly beyond :sai-d :cross piece, catch *members on the bottom of sa-id tray adjacent "the other longitudinal margin of saidbottom arranged to releasably engage the cross piece of the other U-is'ha'ped leg member to hold'said leg members assembled asaasup'portfor the tray, said catch members lying beneath one :of said flanges and in inwardly spaced relation ctothe outer edge thereof, the legs of each 'U-shaped leg member being spaced apart a distance substantially equal to the length of t-he tray-and suffii'cient to receive therebetween the feet and legs of a seated person with the tray overlying the lap of such a'person.

"CLARENCE H. WILSON.

5H. ALEXANDER.

.REEERENGES QIT -ED The following references are of record 'inthe file of this patent: Y 1

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Atkinson Oct. 3-1, 1882 Hodgk-ins Sept. 6, 1898 Quaas Sept. 22, 1903 'Tilley Dec. 22, .1908 Whitney Apr. 23, 1929 Goodman Sept. 30, 1930 :Schott Dec. 19, 1933 Number 266,669 610,269 739,618 

